Hole-closure



B. D. HORTON.

HOLE CLOSURE.

APPLICATION 51pm APR- 13. 1915.

1,345,489. Patnted July 6,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Fla-5 NTOR. WITNESSES: (kg/07 9% B. D. HORTON.

HOLE CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13. 1915.

1,345,489. Patented July 6,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES; LNVENTOR. My.

A TTORNE Y UNIT ZBBYSON DEXTEB HORTON, ,OF DETROIT, JiICHIGAN.

4 FIEOLE-CLOSURE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRYSON DEXTER HoR- roN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, ,in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improveme ts in Hole-(Elm sures, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, is a full, clear, and concise description thereof and such as will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same. I

My invention more particularly relates to seals capable of repeated use for closing knock-out apertures in switch casings which find useful employment when a conduit has been removed from the casing and it is desired to close the aperture through which the same had projected.

- Referring to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 illustrates a fragmentary detail of the electrical switch box or housing showing the application of my invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one form in which my invention may find embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a different form in which my invention may find embodiment. 1 1

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of a still further embodiment thereof, the latter view showing the same applied to the switch casing.

Figs. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 are perspective views of still further modifications of my invention, while Figs. 7 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 are crosssectional views of the last-referred to constructions showing the same applied to and closing apertures of switch casings.

It is common practice to indent, score or weaken sides of switch casings for the purose of rendering the weakened part susceptible of being readily removed in order to provide for the insertion of wires or conduits conveying the same the casing for switch wiring purposes.

Frequently a conduit is removed from the switch casing, due to analteration or change in the wiring, and when so removed, the aperture presents an opening through which moisture and dust, and even rain (should the switch be so positioned or exposed) may enter and corrode the' metallic conductor arts, short circuit,' or otherwise interfere with the circuits or operation of the me- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 13,1915.

' ears 4 are apertured, and

perspective and crossin the housing. As soon .aperture they will, by

to the interior of Patented July 6,1920.

Serial No. 20,983.

chanical parts. It is the object of my invention to provide a convenient seal for closing such an aperture in an expeditious and inexpensive way.

Referring to the Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings in detail, 1 indicates a side of a metallic switch casing, which is scored or indented at 2, at which point commonly referred to as knock-out, has been removed, leaving the aperture or opening therein. The seal may take the form of a disk made of sheet metal as indicated at 3 and provided with two rearwardly-extending ear pieces 4, which are adapted to project within the opening into the interior of the housing. Thedisk is of larger diameter than the aperture so that a flange is provided which abuts against the exterior side of the casing. The rearwardly-extending through these apertures I insert a cotter pin, or other'suitable bar, beyond the edge of the aperture so .as to overlap and contact with the interior surface of the side ,pf the casing, thus locking 'the seal and holding it in position, and

-In this form the extremities of the ears are curved outwardly toward the edge of the disk forming a rounded portion 6 which, when brought into contact with the edge of the aperture, will give inwardly or toward each other so as they are forced beyond the inner peripheral edge of the reason of their inherent springy nature, spring outwardly or away from each other, and thus automatically position themselves with the edge of the casing seated within the seats 7. In this manner the aperture is effectively closed by a seal of one-piece construction. 7

'-I-"may, instead of forming the seal in. the manner heretofore described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3, eliminate entirely the reai'Wardly-extending. e'ar pieces 'and form the same cup shaped as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this embodiment the seal is made of spring material with a flange portion 8 and a central depressed cup portion 9, having a'circumferential groove or seat portlon 10 and a circumferential rounded edge porthat they may be forced withboth extremities of which extend tion 11, the latter being a trifie larger in diameter than the aperture of the casing. In applying this form of seal, pressure is exerted on the center of the cup portion 9 so that, as the seal is being forced through the aperture, it slightly contracts to permit the edge 11 to pass the edge of the aperture so that the latter will enter its seat 10, as is thought to be well understood from the rawing.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a very simple one-piece metal seal in which the closing plate or disk 3 is provided with a series of rearwardly-extending fingers or ears 12 stamped from the body of the metal. In applying this seal to the aperture of the casing the fingers 12 extend directly outwardly in parallel direction to permit them to be freely inserted through the aperture, whereupon they are bent over at 13 with the free ends extending in a plane common to the plane of the main body portion of the disk with the casing interposed therebetween, as is-shown more clearly in Fig. 7.

' Referring tothe modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, however, I use a flat metal disk-3, and fastened thereto by a rivet or equivalent means 14 a plate provided-with a semi-annular rearwardly extending portion 16 forming an opening aperture through which a cotter pin 17 may be inserted for v retaining the plate in assembled position on the switch casing. The ends of the cotter pin, of course, extend a suflicient distance beyond the edge of the aperture to lock the seal in place. I may embody my invention,

however, in a somewhat like construction,

but made from a single plate of metal, and such a construction have shown in Figs. 10 and 11 in which the center of the disk 3 r is pressed outwardly at 18, the metal being opened up at 19 forming a suitable channel or opening for the reception of the retaining cotter pin 17. I may, instead of bending or depressing the entire central zone of the metal idisk outwardly in the manner just described, form the cotter pin retaining means by stamping a pair of lugs or fingers 20, as shown specifically in Figs. 12 and 13. In this form I preferably cup the center portion, as at 23, so as to more effectively seal the aperture in which it is located. Very simple embodiments of my invention may take the form of a two-part seal, such as is shown in Figs. 14 to 19 inelusive I The seals shown in Figs. 14,15, 18 and 19 consist of two metal disks (22 and 23") adapted to fit against the respective sides of the casing, as shown in Figs. 15 and 19, the center portion of the disk 22 be' g cupped inwardly at 23 so as to substantia ly fill the aperture in the casing. To hold the disks in place, I may use the headed stud, as shown at 24, through which a retaining fingers 29 when the plate is slid into position with the wall of the casing interposed between the disks.

In order to hold the parts in assembled relation I indent the .plate 30 at 32. Theses indentations swage the metal outwardly forming projections 33 on the opposite side of the disk, and are so positioned with relation to the diameter of the aperture that they will project thereinto and engage the edge of the aperture and hold the parts firmly in their proper posit1on.

I do not wish to be limited to the precise details in the constructions shown, as it is manifest that my invention may find embodiment in other specific structural ways.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The closure for an aperture in the wall of the switch casing, comprising a sheet metal disk having an upstruck portion adapted to pass through the aperture from one side thereof, and means for securing the disk in place, said means being entirely on the other side and adapted to engage with said portion and the other side of said wall.

2. In combination, a sheet metal disk for closing an aperture in the wall of a switch casing, said disk having an upstruck portion adapted to pass through the aperture from one side thereof, means for securing the disk in place, said means being entirely on theother side and adapted to engage withsaid portion and the other'side of said-wall, and

means for engaging the edge of the aperture to keep the disk in place.

3. In combination, an apertured switch casing, a seal member for' the aperture, said seal member having a supporting surface in 'contact with one surface of the casing about the periphery of the aperture, said member having a portion thereof extending through the aperture and means cooperating solely with said portion and with the other surface of the casing for releasably retaining the seal member in positiop to close the aperture.

4. A closure for an aperture in the wall of the switch casing comprising a sheet metal disk having an upstruck portion adapted to pass through the aperture from oneside thereof, and means in engagement with said portion and adapted to engage the wall from the other side, said means comprising a cotter pin. K

5. A closure for an aperture in the wall of the switch casing comprising a sheet metal disk having an upstruck portion adapted to pass through the aperture from one side thereof, and means in engagement with said portion and adapted to engage the wall from the other side, said means comprising a cotter pin, said upstruck portion being adapted 10 to provide means for alining the closure and aperture.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BRYSON DEXTER HORTON. 

